Untere Mühle

“Lost mills” echoed a child’s voice, skipping stones across an imaginary stream. We stand before the Untere Mühle, once a vital part of Karlsruhe’s history. But this isn’t the Untere Mühle you might expect. Karlsruhe has several “Untere Mühlen.” This one, in the Durlacher Untermühlsiedlung, served not as a grain mill but a place of sustenance and community. The Untere Mühle, also known as “Zur Untermühle,” began its life in the early 18th century. Back then it wasn’t one building but two modest inns. Records show innkeepers like Johann Wilhelm Wicker, Johann Georg Hufschmied, and Johann Friedrich Link, who leased his establishment from the princely treasury. By 1737, the city of Durlach, having purchased both inns, put them up for auction. Fast forward to 1928, Franz Dehmer built the two-story building we see remnants of today. He ran the “Untere Mühle” on the ground floor. Four apartments occupied the upper level. The restaurant boasted two adjoining rooms that could be combined for larger gatherings. Dehmer even advertised weekly slaughtering, a sign of fresh, local fare. In 1938, Karl Geißler briefly took over as innkeeper. However, the Dehmer family soon returned. The Untere Mühle continued its journey through time, reinventing itself. In 1989, it became the “Excelsior Restaurant” and later the “Pfinzstüble.” Sadly, the “Pfinzstüble” closed its doors in 1998. Now only echoes remain. The Untere Mühle stands as a silent testament to changing times. It is a place where the clinking of glasses and lively conversations once filled the air. Its story intertwines with the growth and evolution of Karlsruhe itself, a story of adaptation and community.